There Was a Great Earthquake

We doff the motley, and we cast The cap and bells aside, As we in horror hear one tell How countless thousands died.

The fatal day was Saturday, The hour it was high noon, Like youngsters out of school men sought The welcome week-end boon.

Mothers and children waited there While father locked the door And left his business cares behind, Then hey! for hills or shore.

Life jostled in the busy streets, No word of warning sped— Next moment Yokohama lay A City of the Dead.

One gazing landwards, said it was As if some Titan took The city in his mighty hands, And like a blanket shook.

Trembling, and torn, and wrenched apart, By force, relentless, fierce; Then fire exultant, madly leapt Like greyhound from the tierce.

From where they lay, the men at sea Saw, as a yellow wall, Dust rise in clouds to shroud the scene Beneath a funeral pall.

Yet noble deeds and sacrifice, Of which our speaker told, This cloud a silver living gave, Nay, rather one of gold.